jiggles wrote:Given Uber's endgame is to make all the people it's exploiting to hold the company up literally unemployable, it is worrying that so many people can't see beyond "taxis are cheaper and more convenient right now".

Progress marches on.

Every Uber driver I've spoken to seems happy with their current lot rather than complaining about being exploited.

Sometimes you've got to destroy or downsize an industry to make an advancement. Self-driving vehicles are the future -- it's a shame a lot of people are 'drivers' of various sorts as a career, but we can't hold back progress.

jiggles wrote:How many of those drivers are on their second or third vehicle since beginning to drive for the company?

No idea, can't imagine they'd be as happy when chatting to me if they were three cars down though.

Also they should buy better motors if that's the case.

I'm saying the lost equity on the excessive use of a car isn't going to be something that hits home until they've had to replace it, and a lot of Uber drivers are earning a lot less than they think they are as a result.

According to Uber's city manager Tom Elvidge in today's Sunday Times the company would "like to know what they can do to get this right," and is now willing to make tradeoffs. Sources saying TfL is open to listening.

jiggles wrote:How many of those drivers are on their second or third vehicle since beginning to drive for the company?

No idea, can't imagine they'd be as happy when chatting to me if they were three cars down though.

Also they should buy better motors if that's the case.

I'm saying the lost equity on the excessive use of a car isn't going to be something that hits home until they've had to replace it, and a lot of Uber drivers are earning a lot less than they think they are as a result.

Surely anyone getting a Prius on PCP with a low mileage allowance and planning to work full time as an Uber driver is just asking for trouble? The penalties for excessive mileage are huge. Don't see that being Uber's fault though.

I've seen the Uber invoices for 3 months worth of driving, the guy worked about 45 hours a week, each monthly invoice was about £5,000. Even factoring in fuel, commercial car usage insurance and car payments, he was showing a very solid net profit.

If the vast majority of your income comes from one company though you're probably a worker by law and should get holiday and other statutory benefits. Otherwise companies can just say, ok so you mowed this guys lawn every month, that's another client, you're now freelance so we won't give you holiday or a contract or pay national insurance anymore. It creates all kinds of problems with employment rights and puts companies in a position of even less responsibility for quality of life. It's different if drivers do other journeys that aren't über but a lot of them don't, and even then they have to waive the European directive for maximum hours workable. The truth is uber don't want the expense of employing anyone because they make less money. It's not the drivers responsibility to regulate the fulfilment of the most basic fair employment rights. In fact in cases like the national living wage they are not legally able to waive it, they must be paid. Otherwise the whole system gets strawberry floated and the only winners are the partners and investors in the company. A well designed app is not a good enough reason to circumvent the general role companies are expected to have in providing fair compensation and protection in return for labour, something their role in society is also to provide.

Lol, burn. There are so many "disruptive" business models out that seem to forget you generally want to bet on actually making money in your business plan rather than just scooping up billions in venture capitalist funds and, well, spending it all. It's kind of hilarious to think that I make more money than them, even if it's just 1p. Makes me feel better.